Receptacle for volatile liquids



United States Patent RECEPTACLE FOR VOLATILE LIQUIDS William A. Worker,Palisades Park, N. J., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation,Teterboro, N. 3., a corporation of Delaware Application July 24, 1951,Serial No. 238,275

7 Claims. (Cl. 22014) This invention relates generally to receptaclesfor liquids and more particularly has to do with insulated receptaclesfor volatile liquids such as liquid oxygen, air or other liquifiedgases.

In the design and construction of receptacles for volatile liquids, itis desirable to prevent insofar as is Possible, the transfer of heatbetween the ambient atmosphere, or surrounding structure, and thevolatile liquid. To that end, receptacles of this type usually comprisea container that is designed and constructed to hold the desiredquantity of fluid and to be supported and enclosed within an outershell.

The container and shell are dimensioned so as to provide a space betweentheir adjacent surfaces. To prevent heat transfer, this space is usuallyfilled with a suitable insulating material such as cork, or the air isevacuated from the space to provide an insulating vacuum between theshell and container. It is to the latter form of insulated receptaclesthat the instant invention is particularly directed.

It is manifest that in instances where an insulating material such ascork is utilized, there is little or no problem in supporting thecontainer within the shell since the insulating material itself iscapable of performing this function. When, however, the space isevacuated so as to provide for vacuum insulation of the container, manyproblems are posed in mounting the container within the shell. Forexample, if the receptacle is to be utilized under conditions subjectingit to vibration, the mounting or supporting means must not only supportthe container out of contact with the shell, but in addition theretomust also have suificient resiliency to prevent damage to the containerdue to vibration. In this connection it must also be noted that toinsure a vacuum of a relatively high order, the resilient materialutilized in the mounting means must have low vapor pressurecharacteristics to prevent out-gassing or the passage of gases containedin the material into the evacuated space to thereby lower or reduce theeffectiveness thereof.

Moreover, since it is highly desirable to have the container firmlymounted within the shell, it is apparent that close manufacturingtolerances are required in fabricating the mounting means for supportingthe container of receptacles of this type.

Another problem posed in the usual construction of vacuum insulatedreceptacles is the prevention of heat or thermal conduction through thefilling and draining means of the receptacle. In the past, it has beencommon practice to provide a long, relatively narrow neck for thereceptacle through which the volatile liquid could pass in filling ordraining the receptacle. Thus, by providing a long conduit or neck madeof a low heat conducting material, heat conduction through the neck tothe volatile liquid was kept to a reasonable minimum. It is manifest,however, that in instances where the receptacle is to be used underconditions where storage space is at a prernium, for example, inaircraft, the use of a long-necked receptacle is undesirable in that itoccupies too much space.

The instant invention, therefore, contemplates a novel receptacle forvolatile liquids in which the foregoing difiiculties of design andconstruction heretofore experienced are greatly reduced, if not entirelyeliminated.

Among other objects the present invention contemplates a novel vacuuminsulated receptacle embodying means whereby the container may beresiliently supported within the shell to the end that the containerwill be relatively unaffected by vibration.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of adjustablemounting means for the container of a vacuum insulated receptaclewhereby the necessity for close manufacturing tolerances in thefabrication of the mounting means is eliminated.

A further object contemplated herein is the provision of a vacuuminsulated receptacle wherein the filling and draining means aresituated, or positioned, within the outer shell to the end that thereceptacle occupies a minimum space and heat conduction through thefilling and draining means to the volatile liquid is materially reduced,if not entirely eliminated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the followingdescription taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein oneembodiment of the invention is shown by way of example. It isunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purposes ofillustration only and are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the instant invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially in section of the novel receptacleconstituting the subjact matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, partially in elevation, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through the upper mounting assembly; and

Fig. 4 is a similar section through the lower mounting assembly.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the novelreceptacle for volatile liquids contemplated herein comprises, ingeneral, an oblate spherical container 10 designed to hold the desiredvolume of liquid, and an outer shell 11, similar in form, adapted toreceive and completely enclose container 10. As will hereinafter be morefully set forth, to resiliently mount container 10 within shell 11 andto provide a space S between the adjacent walls thereof, upper and lowerstud members 12 and 13, respectively, mounted on container 10 at theopposite end of the minor axis thereof, are received within upper andlower support assemblies 14 and 15, respectively, similarly mounted onshell 11. The air within space S is evacuated through a fitting 16mounted on shell 11 to provide for the vacuum insulation of container10. An upper conduit 17, connected between upper stud member 12 and afitting 18 carried by shell 11, provides means whereby container 111 maybe vented, while a lower conduit 15 connected between lower stud member13 and a fitting 20 mounted on shell 11 serves as a means whereby liquidmay be introduced into or drawn from container 10. It is manifest, thatwhen the receptacle is in use, suitable valve means are provided tocontrol flow through fittings 18 and 20. A conduit 21 connecting theinterior of container 10 to a fitting 22 on shell 11 affords meanswhereby the receptacle may be connected to a liquid contents gauge ofthe type shown and described in copending application Serial No.189,768, filed October 12, 1950, in the name ofWilliam A. Werker andassigned to the assignee of the present application.

More particularly, container comprises two hollow oblate hemispheres 23and 24, respectively, that are joined together at the peripheralportions thereof. To insure a strong joint, the peripheral portion ofhemisphere 24 is provided with a joggle as at 25 that is adapted toreceive and snugly engage the peripheral portion 26 of hemisphere 23.The lap joint thus formed is secured by a suitable bonding agent 27,such as a solder. Other suitable fastening means such as welding orriveting may be used, the only requisite being that the joint havesuflicient strength to withstand the pressure developed internally ofcontainer 10 by the volatile liquid; and further, the joint mustabsolutely be fluid tight and leak-proof.

Shell 11 is constructed in a manner similar to container 10 andcomprises two hollow oblate hemispheres 28 and 29 that are joined at theperipheral portions 30 and 31-, respectively, by solder 32, or othersuitable bonding means.

As hereinbefore set forth, container 10 is provided with upper and lowerstud members 12 and 13, positioned at the opposite ends of the minoraxis thereof, that are adapted to be resiliently supported in upper andlower itipport assemblies 14 and 15 similarly situated on shell As shownmore particularly in Fig. 4, lower stud member 13 comprises acylindrical body 33 having a peripheral mounting flange 34 adjacent oneend thereof. To mount stud 13 to container 10, lower hemisphere 24 iscentrally apertured and stud 13 is positioned therein so as to haveflange 34 engage the outer surface of hemisphere 24. Suitable fasteningmeans such as solder 35 secures stud 13 in position on hemisphere 24. Toinsure the firm attachment of stud 13 to container 10, a washer 36engaging stud 13 and the inner surface of hemisphere is soldered as at37 and 38 to stud 13 and hemisphere 24, respectively. It is to be notedthat solder 35 is applied so as to prevent any leakage from container 10through the aperture formed therein to receive stud 13.

The lower, or fixed support assembly 15 carried by hemisphere 29 ofshell 11 comprises a cylindrical member 39 closed at one end thereof byan end wall 40 and having mounting flange 41 at the opposite endthereof. Hermsphere 29 is centrally apertured and member 39 ispositioned so as to have the flange 41 thereof engage the inner surfaceof hemisphere 29. Solder 42 sealingly secures flange 41 to hemisphere29.

To provide for the resilient and insulated support of stud 13 in member39, a resilient liner 43 formed of a suitable plastic material, such aspolytrifluorochloroethylene, and adapted to be seated in member 39, isprovided with a cylindrical recess 44 that snugly engages .the lower endportionof cylindrical body 33. It is noted that the plastic materialutilized in the fabrication of liner 43 must have insulating andresilient characteristics as well as low vapor characteristics. Aplastic material such as polytrifluorochloroethylene procurable from M.W. Kellogg Company under the name of Kel F has been found to besatisfactory.

'As shown in Fig. 3, upper stud member 12 comprises a cylindrical memberor body 45 having colinear upper and lower extensions 46 and 47,respectively. To mount stud 12 on container 10, upper hemisphere 23 iscentrally apertured and-stud 12 is positioned so as to have the lowerextension 47 thereof extend through the aperture and the lower surfaceof member 45 engage the outer surface of hemisphere 23 where it issealingly secured to hemisphere 23 by solder 48. A washer 49 engaginglower section 47 of stud 12 and the inner surface of hemisphere 23 issoldered as at 50 and 51 to the stud 12 and hemisphere 23, respectively,to insure the firm attachment of stud 12 to container 10.

Upper support assembly 14, which forms the adjustable element of thenovel mounting means contemplated herein, comprises a cylindricalelement or body 52 partially closed at one end thereof by an end wall53, and internally threaded at the opposite end thereof to receive anexternally threaded plug 54. Tool openings 55 are provided in plug 54 topermit the rotation thereof in element 52 and to thereby move plug 54relative to element 52. Support assembly 14 is positioned so as to havethe cylindrical element 52 thereof extend through the central apertureformed in hemisphere 28 and to have a pcripheral flange 56 formed onelement 52 adjacent end Wall 53 engage the inner surface of hemisphere28 where it is sealingly attached thereto by solder 57. Element 52 isfurther provided with an inner sleeve 58 that is formed integral withend wall 53 and extends therefrom in the direction of the open end ofelement 52. Sleeve 58 is coaxial with and of lesser length than element52.

Sealing means are provided to prevent leakage between the ambientatmosphere and evacuated space S through plug 54 and sleeve 58. Thesealing means comprises a bellows 59 closed at one end by an end plate60 and sealingly attached at the other end thereof to end wall 53.Bellows 59 encloses sleeve 58 and is of sufiicient length to engage theend plate 60 thereof with a recess 61 formed in the lower portion ofplug 54.

To provide a resilient and insulating support within upper supportassembly 14 for stud 12, a plastic liner 62 formed ofpolytrifluorochloroethylene is slidably mounted in sleeve 58 and isprovided with a cylindrical recess 63 adapted to snugly receive theupper extension 46 of stud 12.

Due to the foregoing construction and arrangement of parts, it will bemanifest to one skilled on the art, that when stud 13 is positionedwithin stationary support assembly 15 and stud 12 within adjustablesupport assembly 14, plug 54 may be rotated to thereby clamp studs 12and 13 between plug 54 and end wall 40 of support assembly 15. Byrotating plug 54 so as to move it inwardly of element 52, the clampingpressure is increased until the container 10 is firmly supported Withinshell 11. Since liners 43 and 62 are fabricated from a material havingresilient and insulating characteristics, it is apparent that due to theforegoing mounting, container 10 will be relatively unaffected byvibration and a minimum of heat transferwill occur through the mountingmeans.

As hereinbefore set forth, means are provided to vent container 10. Tothat end, upper stud 12 is provided with inter-communicating verticaland horizontal bores 64 and 65, respectively. Vertical bore 64communicates at the open end thereof with the interior of container 10,while the open end of horizontal bore 65 is connected to one end of ventconduit 17. Vent conduit 17 is connected at the other end thereof tofitting 18 carried by shell 11. Thus, a vent passage from the interiorof container 10 to the exterior of shell 11 is provided through bores 64and 65, conduit 17 and vent fitting 18.

As shown in Fig. 2, conduit 17 is in the form of a relatively flat helixthat is coiled about the upper portion of hemisphere 23 and positionedWithin the evacuated space S. Moreover, conduit 17 is fabricated from amaterial having a low coeflicient of thermal conductivity. It isapparent, that due to this construction and arrangement, a minimum ofheat is conducted from fitting 18 through conduit 17 to container 10.

Filling and draining means are also provided for container 10 and tothat end lower stud 13 is provided with inter-communicating vertical andhorizontal bores 66 and 67, respectively (Figure 4). Vertical bore 66communicates with the interior of container 10 and conduit 19 isconnected to horizontal bore 67. The other end of conduit 19 isconnected to fitting 20 carried by shell 11. Thus, filling and drainingpassageway means are provided comprising bores 66 and 67, conduit 19 andfitting 20.

Conduit 19 is fabricated from a material having a low coetiicient 9fthermal conductivity and, like vent conduit 17, is in the form of arelatively flat helix. Moreover, conduit 19 is coiled about the lowerportions of hemisphere 29 and positioned within evacuated space S. Thus,due to to the relatively long length of conduit 19, its low heatconduction characteristics, and further, since conduit 19 is positionedwithin evacuated space S, it is manifest that heat transfer byconduction from fitting 20 to the volatile liquid within container iskept to a minimum.

It is also to be noted that the helix formed by conduit 19 is notcentrally disposed relatively to the bottom of hemisphere 29 but isdisposed to one side thereof. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, thediametrically opposed portions 19a and 19b of conduit 19 are atdifferent elevations with respect to the bottom of container 10. Due tothis arrangement, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art, thatconduit 19 also serves as a liquid trap for container 10.

To provide means whereby any vapor present in space S after the air hasbeen evacuated therefrom through fitting 16 may be adsorbed, a disk-likeelement 68 having an outstanding peripheral flange 69 and screenedopenings 70 formed therein, is mounted by flange 69 to the bottom orlower portion of hemisphere 29. The space between the adjacent walls ofdisk-like element 68 and hemisphere 24 is filled with a suitableadsorbing agent 71 such as cocoanut charcoal. Thus, any vapor remainingin space S after its evacuation, is adsorbed by cocoanut charcoal '71through openings 70 provided in disk-like element 68.

From the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement ofthe novel receptacle contemplated herein, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the art, that the various objects of the instant inventionhave been accomplished.

While the container 10 and shell 11 have been shown and described asbeing on the form of oblate spheres, it is understood that the instantinvention is not limited to any particular form or dimensions of theaforenoted elements.

Moreover, other changes and modifications of the elements of the novelreceptacle contemplated herein may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the instant invention.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for volatile liquids comprising a container for saidliquid, a shell enclosing said container with the adjacent walls of saidcontainer and shell in spaced relationship, means whereby the airbetween said container and shell may be evacuated to provide for vacuuminsulation of said container, a pair of opposed fixed stud memberscarried exteriorly of said container, a fixed support assembly carriedby said shell and including a liner having resilient and low thermalconduction characteristics engaging one of said stud members, anadjustable support assembly carried by said shell and including a linerhaving resilient and low thermal conduction characteristics slidablymounted in said adjustable support assembly and engaging the other ofsaid stud members, said adjustable support assembly including a movablemember operable to move in the direction of said fixed support assemblyto axially move said liner whereby said stud members are clamped betweensaid fixed and adjustable support assemblies to resilient support andthermally insulate said container within said shell, a vent fittingcarried by said shell, a passageway formed in the stud member engagedwith said adjustable support assembly and communicating at one end withthe space between said container and shell and at the other end thereofwith the interior of said container, a vent conduit disposed in thespace between said container and shell and connected between said oneend of said passageway and said vent fitting, a passage formed in thesecond stud member engaged with said fixed support assembly andcommunicating at one end with the space between said container and shelland at the other end thereof with the interior of said container, afilling and draining fitting carried by "6 said shell, and a conduitdisposed in the space between said container and shell and connectedbetween said one end of said passageway and said filling and drainingfitting.

2. A receptacle for volatile liquids comprising a container formed oftwo hollow oblate hemispheres sealingly joined at the peripheralportions thereof, stud members carried by said container at the oppositeends of the minor axis thereof, a shell formed of two hollow oblatehemispheres sealingly joined at the peripheral portions thereof, saidcontainer and shell being dimensioned to provide a space between theadjacent walls thereof when the former is positioned within the latter,a fitting carried by said shell for evacuating said space to therebyprovide for vacuum insulation of said container, a stationary supportassembly carried by said shell at one end of the minor axis thereof andincluding a resilient and insulating liner receiving one of said studmembers carried by said container, an adjustable support assemblycarried by said shell at the opposite end of the minor axis thereof,said adjustable support member including a sleeve, a resilient andinsulating liner slidably mounted in said sleeve and receiving the otherof said stud members carried by said container, and movable meansoperative to axially move said liner and clamp said stud members betweensaid stationary and adjustable support assemblies, and means forcommunicating the interior of said container with the exterior of saidshell, including a passageway formed in one of said studs communicatingat one of its ends with the space between the container and shell andits other end with the interior of said container, a fitting carried bysaid shell, and a conduit disposed in the space between the containerand shell and connecting said one end of said passageway to saidfitting.

3. A receptacle for volatile liquids comprising an oblate sphericalcontainer for said liquid, stud members carried by said container at theopposite ends of the minor axis thereof, a shell enclosing saidcontainer and dimensioned to provide a space between adjacent walls ofsaid container and shell, support assemblies including liners havingresilient and thermal insulating characteristics carried by said shelland receiving said stud members, at least one of said support membersincluding an axially adjustable portion bearing axially against theassociated stud member and exerting adjustable axial clamping pressureon the latter stud member and the container, a fitting carried by saidshell whereby the air in the space between said container and shell maybe evacuated, and means disposed in the space between the container andshell for communicating the interior of said container to the exteriorof said shell.

4. A receptacle for volatile liquids comprising a container for saidliquid, a shell enclosing said container, stud members fixed to saidcontainer, and support assemblies fixed to said shell for cooperativeengagement with said stud members, at least one of said supportassemblies including an axially adjustable portion bearing axiallyagainst the associated stud member and clamping the stud members axiallybetween the support assemblies by said axial adjustment said supportassemblies including a liner having resilient and thermal insulatingcharacteristics and engaging said stud members whereby said container isresiliently supported and thermally insulated within said shell.

5. In a vacuum insulated receptacle for volatile fluids including acontainer for said liquid, a shell enclosing said container in spacedrelationship thereto, and having the space between said container andshell evacuated to provide for the vacuum insulation of said container,the combination with said container and shell of means for resilientlysupporting and thermally insulating said container within said shellcomprising a first stud having a flange adjacent one end thereof, saidflange being sealingly attached to said container at one end of the axisthereof, a fixed support assembly having a peripheral flange sealinglysecured to said shell, a liner in said fixed support assembly having arecess to receive said first stud, a second stud including a cylindricalbody sealingly fastened tov said container at the other end of the axisthereof, an adjustable support assembly including a cylindrical' elementhaving a flange sealingly secured to said shell, a .plug movably mountedin the one end of said element, an end wall partially closing the otherend of said element, a sleeve integral with said end wall and extendingpartially in the direction of said plug, a bellows having an open endsealingly secured to said end wall and a closed end engageable with saidplug, said bellows enclosing said sleeve, a liner slidably mounted insaid sleeve and engageable with the closed end of said bellows, saidplug being operable upon the inward movement thereof relative to saidelement to clamp said first and second studs within said fixed andadjustable support assemblies, and said liners being formed from amaterial having resilient and low thermal conduction characteristics.

' 6. In a vacuum insulated receptacle for volatile fluids including acontainer. for said liquid, a shell enclosing said container in spacedrelationship thereto and having the space between said container andshell evacuated to provide for the vacuum insulation of said container,the

combination with said container and shell of means for resilientlysupporting and thermally insulating said container with said shellcomprising opposed stud members mounted to and projecting exteriorly ofsaid container,

-a fixed support assembly mounted to said shell and including aresilient and thermal insulating member for cooperative engagement withone of said stud members,

and an adjustable support assembly mounted to said shell including aresilient and thermal insulating member for cooperative engagement withthe other of said stud members, said adjustable support assemblyembodying means for exerting an axial clamping pressure on said studmembers whereby said container is supported within said shell asaforesaid.

7. In a vacuum insulated receptacle for volatile fluids of the typeincluding a container having fixed opposed stud members resilientlyengaged in support assemblies carried by said shell whereby saidcontainer is supported within said shell and in spaced relationshipthereto, and wherein the space between said container and shell isevacuated to provide for the vacuum insulation of said container, thecombination with said container and shell of means for communicating theinterior of said container with the exterior of said shell comprising apassageway formed in one of said stud members and communicating with theinterior of said container, a fitting mounted on said shell, and ahollow fluid conduit connecting said fitting to the passageway in saidstud member, said conduit being fabricated in the form of a relativelyflat helix and from a material having a low coefficient of thermalconductivity, and positioned in the evacuated space between saidcontainer and shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,262,009 Brady Apr. 9, 1918 1,521,148 Dennett et al Dec. 30, 19241,522,886 Heylandt Jan. 13, 1925 2,080,923 Lassen May 18, 1.937

2,117,276 Davis May 17, 1938 2,396,459 Dana Mar. 12, 1946 2,436,411Weaver Feb. 24, 1948 2,528,780 Preston Nov. 7, 1950 2,592,974 SulfrianApr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 348,838 Great Britain May 21, 1931

